Tunneling-machine.



L. H. ROGERS.

TUNNELING MAGHINE.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. s, 1911.

1,039,809. Patented o@n.1,1912;

N .A l j avuto@ m w a l L. H. RGERS.

TUNNELING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. s, 1911.

L. H. ROGERS.

TUNNELING MACHINE.

. APPLICATION FILED JAN. 3, 1911.

1,039,809 r Patented 0015.1,1912

6 SHEETS-SHEET L. H. ROGERS. TNNELING MACHINE. APPLICATION Hmm JAN. s, 1911.

Patented Oct. l, 3.912.

B SHEETS-SHBET 4.

fo M7 M L. H. ROGLRS.v TUNNELING MACHINE.

APYLIATION FILED JAN. 3, 1911.

1,039,809. Paiented. 0013. 1, 1912.

8 SHEETS-SHEET 5A L. HYROGERS. TUNNBLING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 3. 1911.

1,039,809. Patented ot.1,1912.

6 SHEETS-SHEET 8.

'ITEM S.

rss PATENT OFFICE.

` rinsnnns n. Roanne, or NEWY'OEK, N. Y., ssIGNoR r.ro cAsE TUNNEL a ENGINEERING coMrANr, a CORPORATION on: ARIZONA.

rnNNELrNGaviAorrINE.

Losanna.

Specification of Letters Patent.

ratenteaoai, 1912.

Application. niet?. January 3, 1911. Serial No. 606,568.

.To cil whom Si may concern:

Re it known that I, LnBnEUs H. Rosnns, a citizen of the United States, and a resident t the borough oi Manhattan, in the county oit New York and State' pf New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Tunneling-Machines, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to a tunneling marv lo chine and. its object isthe production of an apparatus which can bore a tunnel or sink a shaft either vertically up or down, horizontally or at an angle thereto.

It is characterized by rotating grinding wheels and rotating and revolving grinding wheels, the paths or some ofthe grinding wheels overlapping each other.

Figure l'represents a partial plan view of a machine exemplifying the invention with 26 a sectional view of a tunnel. Fig. 2 shows a partial longitudinal section `as on a line 2, 2 of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a partial section of Fig. 2 on the line 8, 3. Fig. 4 shows a partial section of Fig. 2 on the line 4, 4, Fig. 4a shows a partial. left hand view of Fig. 2, Fig. 4b is a section of Fig. 4 on .the line 4', 4b, Fig. 5 represents a sectional view of atunnel and an elevation of the front head t the machine, Fig. 6 shows a partial secin of Fig. 2 on the broken iine 6, 6, Fig. 7 section of Fig. 6 on the line 7, 7 Fig. 8 'esente a partial elevation of the machine htiy modified in a vertical shaft, Fig. 9 .is a diagrammatic section of a' tunnel in which are shown rectangular corners, Fig. .1.6 similar to Fig. 9 with the lower corners omitted and a gutter, Fig. 11 shows a tunnel with side guides and a central gutter,v and Fig. 12 represents a tunnel with a roof of lio timber and lower rectangular corners. 'Ihe machine is represented to consist of a main central frame that comprises the rear end portion with the legs 2l and 22. W ith the said legs are formed grip guides 23 i and 24, whichrespectiyely support the adjustable grips 25 and 26 with the lock nuts ""7 l 28. hearing 31 is ormedwith the 26 to support t se hollow shaft 35. nge 86 are cramped to the f et the toch; .tot

Supporting rollers 38 are carried on thesnpports 36. The leg 21 has formed therewith a bracket 39 for the motor 40. To the rootv of the portion 20 is connected an adjustgrip guide by means of the lock nuts52. A so iront portion of said central frame similar to the portion 20, has formed therewith the-legs 56 and 57. j In the roof 58 of the portion 55 is clamped the' adjustable bearing 59 by means of the lock nuts 66,.and a guide roller 61 is 'ournaled in said bearing 59. A

connecting race is bolted to and between the legs 56 and 57, by means of thebolts 66,` In the central portion of the brace 65 is secured the adjustable bearing 67 by means of 70 the lock nuts 68.. A guide roller 69 is jouI'-, naled in the bearing 67. A cup 70 is formed with the 'connecting brace 65 and in which is adjustably located a spindle 71 With the nut 72. The spindle 71 has extending from Z5y I .its lower end the journalframe 74 from which extends the air motor 75. A shaft 76 from said motor has one end thereof journaled in the leg'of the journal frame 74. A. grinding wheel- 78, preferably of carborun 80 dum, is supported on the shaft 76, and a spring 79 surrounding the spindle 71 bears between the upper face of the journal frame 74 and the roof of the cup 70. The axial line of the spindle 71 is horizontally distant 85 from the axial line of the shaft 76.

From each of `the legs 56 and 57 extend cups 83 similar to the cup 70 and which suport spindle 84 similar to"'71. Yj'ou'rmatl rame 85 extends from each of the spindles 90- 84. A motor 86 is supported in each frame 85 and the shafts 87 of said motors have each one end thereofjournaled in the legs'- of the frames 85. A grinding wheel 89 is fastened to each shaft 87, and vsprings 90 95 similar to 79 encircle the spindles'84. A bearing 91 is formed with the front portion 55 for the hollow shaft 35. Side connecting brackets 95 are bolted between the portions 936 and 55. la'ch ci said connecting brach- 10.6

that vcarry the motors 100. The shafts 101 l of said niotorsearry the grinding wheels 102 and'103, and are laterally distant from the .spindles 98'and 99. q

A journal bearing 106 is bolted Ato one of the connecting brackets 95. The rntor shaft 107 of the moto-r 40 has one end j ournaled in A the bearing 106. A connecting brace 110 is bolted between the upper ends of the por- -v tions and 55. It has formed therewith l the bearings 111 and 112 for thefcountei:

shaft 113. i

A. sprocket pinion 118 on the motor shaft 107 is connected to the sprocket wheel 119 on the .counter-shaft 113 by means of the sprocket chain 120.` A pinion 121 fastened to the counter shaft 113 meshes with the "spur, gear 122 fastened to the hollow shaft 35. Roller bearings 123 are located between the hub-of the Wheel 1.22 and the sup 'port 91. And roller bearings 124 f are located betweenv the support 91 andthe sleeve of the front head to be described. Air pipes 125 have fitted up therewith stop valves 126, Vfrom which extend exible conduits i127 that lead to the motors 75, 86 and 100.

A rear frame 130 has exten-ding` therefrom the legs 131 and 132 andhas formed therewith the central support 133. `A guide sup- V'port 135 extends from each of the legs 131 and 132 that has clam ed thereto the grips 55436, 137 by means of t e lock nuts 138.` An

adjustable bearing 139is supported in each rof the legs'131 and 132 b means of the lock nuts 140 and a guide rol er 141 is journaled in each of the adjustable bearings 139.- A main roof 145 is formed with the upper end of the said rearframe 130 and in which is supported. an adjustable bearing 146 by means of the lock nuts 147. A guide roller 148 is journaled in the bearing 146. An upper roof 152 is formed 'with the rear frame 130 and has adjustably connected thereto the grip 153 by means of thelock nuts 154.

In the central support 133 is located a cylinder 160 with the front head 161 and rear head 162. Thesaid heads fit tightlyl on the outer-surface of the hollow shaft 35. A piston 163 with the packing rings 165 is 'fastened ,to the `hollow shaft 35 and itsfthe inne'r `cylindrical surface 'of the cylinder 160. A'port 166 is`formed at the rear end of the cylinder and a port 167 is formed at the forward end thereof. Piping 168 connects -said p'oijts and has connected therewith the valyes 169,y 170 and the ,threeway cocks 171 and 172., A T 173 is alsoconnected with 168 and to which leads the flexif ble conduit or hose 174. y

The hollow shaft 35/ at its rear end is closed with the cap 177 .which has connected theretmaiiegrible conduit 178. The front Inected up with said crown. tend from the outer surface of the crownin end of the shaft 35 has the cap .179.and openings 180 which lead to sto valves 1'81, from which latter extend lexi le conduits 182. On the front end of the hollow shaft 35 is supported the front headi designated generally by 200. It has the central sleeve 201 `thatlis vfastened to the shaft 35 and from .whichextend the ribs 202 and 203, which support the semi-sphericalfcrown 204. The latter has a plurality of openings 205y to obtain access to the appurtenances con- Cups 210 exwhich arel su ported adjustable bearings 'that comprise t 1e spindles 211 that carry the journal frames 212. Motorsl 213, and in this instance air motors, extend from the frames 212 and their shafts 214 have each.

of their ends journaled in the frames 212.

lA spring 215 located in each of the cups 210 surroun s the spindles 211thereof, and the ends of each of said springs bear between the bottom of its cup and the said4 frame 212. A nut 216 is in threaded engagement with the outer end of each spindle 211. The conduits 182` have their ends connected to the said motors 213. Each spindle 211 is laterally distant from its motor shaft 214.

An adjustable curved journal bracket 220 with a threaded end is clamped to the crown 204 by means of a bracket 221, and is lon.

gitudinally adjustable in said bracket by means of the clamping nuts 222. In the outer end of the journal bracket 220 is journaled a head guide roller 225. lThe bracket 220 is curved so as to bring the roller out of the longitudinal axis of the machine when viewed as shown in Fig. 2 and its point -of contact with the head of the tunnel may be at the intersection of said longitudinal axis and the head of the tunnel when viewed as shown in Fig.` 1.

Carborundum grindin wheels 226 are Vfastened to shafts 214, t e wheels 226 are disposed over the crown 204 s'o that when said head rotates their paths of contact with the head of the tunnel will overlap each other. The head 4200 carries the cleaning brushes 227. A conduit 228 connected to the frame has the nozzle 229.

with the side ,grooves 232. The rear frame of t'he machine `is represented at 230 and has extending therefrom the uide supports 235 with the lugs 236, to w ich.latter are attached the suspension chains 237. Grips 238 are adjustable clamped to the guide supports 235. Adustable bearings 239 are clamped to the rame 230 and guide rollers 240 are journaled in said bearings 239. The cylinder 260 similar to 160 is uided in the framev 230 and has connectedg thereto the piping 268 with the valves 269, 270, and stop cocks 271, 272. A flexible conduit 273 115 In Fig. 8 the machine is slightly modified and is represented in a vertlcal shaft 231.

adjustable clamped the grips 312.\ Adjust- `able bearings 313 are bolted to the rear por- Aleads to a T 274 Vin thepiping 263. hol- ,V -lnw shaft 275 similar to 35 is guided in the i cylinder 26d.

d central frame slightly modified from thev one already described, -is shown to comthereto journal frames 300 that carry niotors with the shafts 301. Grinding wheels 362 are fastened to the shafts 301. A front head 'not shown, similar Ito 200 and having the central sleeve 305 is fastened to the hollow shaft 275. rear portion of the central frame is shown at 310 and has formed therewith Ythe guide supportsl 311, in which are tion 310 and havejournaled thereon the guide rollers 314. A connecting frame 315 is bolted between the portions 280 and 310.

s A journal bracket 316 is bolted ,to the pori open to the atmosphere and the valve 170 tion 310. and a journal bracket 317 is bolted to the portion 280. A. spindle 318 is journaled in said brackets 316 and 317. y A motor 320 is supported on the portion 310, and the shaft 321 of said motor carries a sprocket pinion 322 that carries a chain 323, which latter engages a sprocket wheel 32/1 that is fastened to the spindle 318.

To operate the machine and referring to Figs. 1 to 7, the grips 136 and 153 are respectively located to-tightly bear aga-inst the door and the roof of the tunnel. The motor Ll() is started and the other parts of the machine are located as particularly shown in Fig. 2, the hollow shaft being under air pressure from the conduit 178. The motor rotates the shaft 35 and thereby the front head 200 is rotated. Air enters they l" 173 through conduit 174i and flows threeway cock 171 ony its way into the cylinder 160, and thereby pushes the piston 163,l

with the shaft. 35 to the right as shown by the arrow B. The threeway cock 172 is closed, by Virtue of which the air in the cylinder 160 on the right hand side of the piston 163 is discharged through said three way cock 172. lVhile the hollow shaft is being moved to the front or head of the tunnel, the guide roller 225 bears against said head somewhat distant from the intersection of the axial line of the machine with the front' or head ofthe tunnel. The grips 25, 26 and 51 do not bear irespectively against the floor and roof ofthe tunnel during the movement of the shaft 35. The motor 1U rotating causes the shaft and 'the head. 200 with its appurtenances to rotate, the central frame .the-reto the grinding wheels 362 whic `with thel portions 20 and 55 having only movement in the axial direction of the tunnel with the longitudinal movement of the shaft 35. `While the front head 200 is turning, air is supplied from the hollow shaft 35 to the flexible conduits 132, and the latter supply air to the motors 213, by reason of which the grinding wheels 226 turned. The said wheels 226 yare thus rotated and revolved at the saine time, thereby grinding the head of the tunnel as the machine advances. `While the hollow shaft is yrotating and advancing, compressed air from the air pipes 125 is delivered to the motors 36 to rotate the grinding wheels 39, to the motors 100 for the grinding wheels 102 and 103 and to the motor for the grinding wheel 78. The front head 200 is moved in the direction of the arrow B, until the cap 177 is within a short distance of the rear 'head 162 of the cylinder 160. The operator next tightens the grips 25, 26 and 51 with the roof and floor of the tunnel, and allows the compressed air to enter the cylinder 160 through the valve 170 and three way cock 172, to move the cylinder 160 on the hollow. shaft 35 in the direction of ,the said arrow B, the grips 136 and 153 having been loosened, by reason of which the rea-r frame 130 will be moved toward the central frame having the portions 20 and 55. Next the grips 136 and153 are again tightened in place and the grips 25, 26 and again loosened. During the operations of the inachine the conduit 228 furnishes water for the head of the tunnel. to wash the grindings' therefrom, and the cleaning brushes 227 sweep the said head of the tunnel clean from all grindings due to the effects of the grinding Wheels.

lt will be noted that with the combination of the machine as shown in Figs. 1 to 8 that the grinding wheels 89 make the first longitudinal cut in the floor of the tunnel after the grinding wheels 226 in the head 200 have formed the main cylindrical poition thereof. The channels cut by said wheels lOl) Y being indicated at 350. The grinding wheels 102 and 103 follow the channels 350 and cnt the channels 353 forming the lower corners of the tunnel.V These corners 353 are plainly indicated in Figs. 9 to 12. The wheel '7 3 cuts the gutter 354 in the floor of the tunnel and which carries away all the deb-ris due to the operations of all the grinding wheels, by reason of the water directed against the head of the tunnel finding its way into said` gutter.

The operation of the machine shown in Fig. 8 is similarto that already described. The construction of the head does not diii'er from the head 200, but as already des 'l "l 'the central frame 230 has only co the side grooves or guides The the material yto be operated upon, and the.

motors may be steam, electric, gas or of any other suitable type.

sire to `secure by Letters Patent and claim 1. In a tunneling machine. the combination of a central frame, a hollow shaft journaled in the framemeans to conduct a fluid vto the interior of said shaft, a front head fastened to said shaft, grinding wheels journaled on said headg motors connected to the wheels carried on the head, wmeans to conductv the liuid from said shaft to said motors, a rear frame slidably connected to the shaft, a cylinder encircling said shaft and fastened to the rear frame, a piston in the cylinder connected to said shaft and means tolead a compressed fluid on either side of the piston.

2. In a tunneling machine the combination of a central frame, a hollow shaft journaled in the frame, a front head fastened to said shaft, grinding wheels journaled to the head, air motors on the head to rotate said wheels, a motor on the central frame, gearing interposed between the motor and the shaft to rotate the latter, grips adjustably connected to the central frame, a cylinder encircling the shaft, a rear frame supporting the cylinder, a piston in the cylinder fastened to the shaft, -grips extending from the rear frame, supportin rollers and guide rollers journaled in each rame, means to inject compressed air into the shaft, means to lead 'compressed air into the cylinder on one side of the piston thereof to longitudinally vmove said `sha and on the other side there- 'of to longitud nally moye'the cylinder and therewith the rear frame.

3. In a tunneling machine the `combina-l tion of a frame, a shaft journaled in the lframe, means to rotate the shaft, a front head fastened to the shaft,- spindles slidably supportedlin the front head, journal frame extending from the spindles, a flexible medium located between each 'ournal frame and said head, a motor carrie on each journal frame, a grinding wheel foreach motor journaled in said frame, the axis of each .grinding wheel laterally distant from the spindle of its journal frame.

4. In a tunneling machine thecombination of a frame, a shaft jcurnaled in the frame, means to' move the ishaftin the dirollers journaled in der supported by the rear frameand enciri cling said hollow shaft, a lpiston within rection of its longitudinal axis, means to rotate the shaft while it is moving in the direction of its longitudinal axis, a front-head fastened to the shaft, a semi-spherical crown formed with the head,f spindles slidably supported in the said crown, journal frames extending from said spindles, a grinding wheel journaled in each frame with its axis laterall distant from the axis of its correspon ing spindle, the paths of the grinding wheels overlapping each other and movtors for said grindlng wheels. 2 Having descrlbed :my lnvention what I de- 5.'In a tunnelingy machine the combination of a frame, means to lock said frame A in place, a hollow shaft journaled in the frame, means to run the shaft in the direction of its longitudinal axis, means to rotate the shaft, a front head fastened to the shaft,

a semi-spherical crown1l formed with the i head, spindles slidablysupported in said" crown, journal' frames extending from said spindles, a spring surrounding each spindle bearing between the said crown and its journal frame, a mit en'a ing a threaded end t on'each spindle,a grin ing Wheel j ournaled in each journal frame, an air motor extending from each-journal frame and connected to i its accomdpanying grinding wheel, sto

valves exten ing from openings in said ho low shaft, conduits connecting said valves jwiththe air motors, and means to feed a Huid into said hollow shaft.

i 6. In a tunneling machine the combina; tion of a central frame, a shaft journaled in `said frame, .a front head fastened to the shaft, grinding wheels adjustably supported on the head, motors connected up with the grinding wheels, cleaning brushes extending rom the front head, journal frames slidably supported in said central framela motor on each of the latter frames eonne'lcted up with its accompan ing grinding" whe uide rollersex en ing from the central rame, a conduitfor water connected with the machine tospray and clean the head of a-tunnel in which themachine operates and means to clamp the central frame in position in said tunnel.

7. In a tunneling machine the combina.

tion of a central'frame, grips connected to said frame to hold it in place in aptunnel, lrollers extending from said frame, a hollow shaftjournaled v1n said frame, a motor carried on the frame, connections-between the motor and said shaft, a' front head fastened to the hollow shaft, (journal frames adjustably connected-to sai head, grinding wheels journaled in said journal frames, a motor on each journal frame for its, accompanying grinding wheel, a rear frame for the machine, grips extendingL from the rear frame,

t e rear frame, a cylinthe cylinder and fastened to the hollow. Signed at the borough of Manhattanin shaft, conduits connecting'openings in the the county of New York and State of New hollon7 shaft with the motors on the front York this 31st day of December A. D. 1910. 10 head, means to conduct compressed a-ir to LEBBEUS H. ROGERS.

5 the hollow shaft and means to conduct com- Witnesses;

pressed air to the said cylinder on eithex` W. H. BowIE, side of its piston. M. ENGELSMAR. 

